TD makes Chargers DST's day

by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer

(12/21/14) The Chargers didn't have a standout defensive performance Week 16 at San Francisco, allowing 35 points on 447 yards, but their defense was still instrumental in their 38-35 victory. Ricardo Mathews stripped quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the football late in the third quarter, and Corey Liuget recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown.

It was one of two sacks and three fumble recoveries for the Chargers on the day. Their DST has contributed a touchdown in three of the last five weeks.

Though the touchdowns have made the Chargers DST a productive Fantasy unit in recent weeks, it's been giving up plenty of points and yardage. You still wouldn't want to trust in it outside of an especially favorable matchup, which it doesn't have Week 17 at Kansas City.

Chargers defense can't do enough in loss

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(12/14/14) The Chargers defense failed to provide much resistance in a 22-10 loss to the Broncos in Week 15.

The Chargers held up Ok in the game, holding the Broncos to just 337 yards of total offense, mostly by shutting the running game down. However, they also failed to make any big plays, coming up with just one sack and no turnovers in the loss.

All things considered, this could have gone worse for the Chargers, who had zero Fantasy points in their Week 8 matchup with the Broncos. However, they came up with just 3 Sunday, so it wasn't that much better. They will look to bounce back in Week 16 against the 49ers, but are not a recommended Fantasy play for that game.

TD the bright spot for Chargers DST

by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer

(12/8/14) Considering they were facing one of the league's most prolific offenses, the Chargers weren't so bad defensively Week 14 against New England, giving up 23 points on 397 yards. But if not for defensive back Darrell Stuckey's fumble recovery return for a touchdown in the second quarter, it wouldn't have amounted to much for their DST in Fantasy.

The Chargers also had one interception and one sack and have been especially lacking in the latter lately, recording just four in their last six games. Their DST has scored 13-plus Fantasy points, though, three of the last four weeks.

Though they survived the Patriots, they're really pushing their luck going against the Broncos the following week, so don't rush to add the Chargers DST off waivers in Fantasy.

Chargers defense provides little resistance

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(11/30/14) The Chargers defense had trouble slowing the Ravens' offense down in Week 13, a 34-33 win.

The Chargers limited the Ravens to 350 yards of total offense and allowed just three touchdowns in seven red zone trips, so this could have been even worse. However, they held them to four field goals in the game, while failing to record a single turnover and sacking Joe Flacco just once.

The Chargers DST unit ended the game with zero Fantasy points, their third time in five games failing to record a single point. They could struggle yet again in Week 14 as well, with the Patriots on the schedule.

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The Chargers didn't quite go worst-to-first in passing defense last year, but they made one of the biggest improvements in the league anyways, jumping from 29th in passing yards allowed in 2013 to fourth in 2014. Unfortunately, that was not enough to propel them into the top half of Fantasy DST units, as they finished 26th in Fantasy scoring. Their biggest issue yet again was an inability to create the big play, as they made the tiny jump from 30th in turnovers to 27th, while finishing with just 26 sacks as a team. With few big names coming on board in free agency, we probably shouldn't expect much more from this team, which should be considered a bottom-10 Fantasy DST unit on Draft Day.
(Updated 4/22/15)